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Leading UK wine trade figures head to London for first France Summit

Published:  21 October, 2013

Leading figures from across the UK wine trade will be attending tomorrow's inaugural Harpers France Summit that will look at how well the industry is sourcing, promoting and selling French wine across the on and off-trades.

The day will include keynote talks and sessions from influential figures such as Gerard Basset MW and Ronan Sayburn MW as well as representatives from leading supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose.

Delegates will be able to hear the latest statistics on how well French wine is doing against the rest of the wine category with an opening talk from Anne  Burchett of Sopexa in the UK. TimWilson of the Wilson Drinks Report will reveal his latest research analysing how different French regions are performing in the UK.

Sam Sudlow and Chris Fitzpatrick of Brand View, that analyses and tracks the retail prices and promotions of all major grocery brands in the UK, will look at how individual French brands and products are performing and what sort of promotional activity they are using to attract sales.

As well as a series of specialist tastings and debates there will be a chance for delegates to quiz Master Sommelier, Gerard Basset in a special wine clinic where he will be available to answer questions on how he sees the best way to design and source a French wine list.

The day will also include the results of the first Harpers French Wine Awards that look to reward those individuals and operators doing the most to promote French wine in the UK.

Key speakers lined up for the two industry debates include:

Debate one (11.05am-12.10pm): What is the best way to source wine from France?
Key speakers lined up for this first session includes Phillipa Carr MW, Asda; Clive Donaldson, Morrisons; Rebecca Palmer, Corney & Barrow; Raul Diaz, Jascots Wine Merchants; Alistair Morrell, The Wine Fusion; Alex Canneti, Berkmann Wine Cellars; Nik Darlington, Red Squirrel Wine; Beverly Tabbron, Hallgarten Druitt; Abi Hershfeld, Direct Wines; Liz Donnelly, Alliance Wine; Matthew Dickinson, Dickinson Associates; as well as contributions from a number of our French wine partners, including Tim North of Les Grand Chais de France and Olivier Legrand of Inter Rhone.

Debate two (2.50pm-4pm): Is the UK making the most of its French wine offer?
The line-up of speakers includes: Hal Wilson, Cambridge Wine Merchants; Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company; Lucy Clements, Tesco; Waitrose; Direct Wines; Clive Donaldson, Morrisons; Master Sommeliers Gerard Basset, Hotel TerraVina, and Ronan Sayburn; Beverly Tabbron, Hallgarten Druitt; Mike Matthews, North & South Wines; and a number of contributors from the morning debate including Abi Hershfeld, Direct Wines. The panel debates will be held in an open forum and all delegates will be able to take part and share their views along with the guest speakers.

To register for the event that is taking place at London's St Ermins Hotel, SW1 from 9am contact joanna.gibson@wrbm.com.

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